Jockey Jack Quinlan was not shy at hiding his emotions after securing his first ever victory at Cheltenham with a fine front running success aboard Lookaway who returned something close to his very best in the feature Grade Two Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle on day one of The Showcase.

Entering the race with a record of zero wins from 46 previous mounts at the track the Grade One-winning rider finally laid that ghost to rest aboard the Neil King-trained six-year-old in the two-mile contest.   

Having looked a potential superstar when running out the winner of a Grade Two bumper at Aintree in April 2022, the gelded son of Ask failed to fire in three starts last season before running out the facile of winner of two novice events at Uttoxeter at the start of the current campaign. 

Sent straight into the lead by Quinlan the 9-2 chance was there to be taken aim at by his rivals. However as the race wore on Lookaway continued to look strongest of them all out in front having been settled into a good rhythm by Quinlan. 

Jumping the last in front Lookaway continued to find plenty for pressure out in front under Quinlan before defeating Kamsinas by two and three and quarter lengths much to the delight of an animated Quinlan.  

Quinlan said: “I’d say it has taken me eleven or twelve years to win here. To finally tick that off was a real thrill and I really enjoyed that one. 

“We can look back in hindsight and be pleased how lucky we were last season. He wasn’t in good form all season, but he should have been good enough to nick a bad novice hurdle around a bad track, but he didn’t.  

“He won two novice races after the cut-off point so he remains a novice all this season with that experience. 

“At the time we found it frustrating, but we can look back and think how lucky we are to have him as a novice for this season. 

“I’ve not ridden many Grade One horses, but he has given me as good a feeling that I have ridden. He will handle the step up to two and a half miles when it comes, however we will enjoy today.

“I was in front all the way and I winged the last and I thought surely I can’t get caught, but I was in a similar position aboard Kalashnikov in the Supreme at The Festival and I got nailed. 

“I was praying for that line to come as it seems a long way away so that build-up of emotion when you get to the line explodes up out of you.”

Not only was the victory a welcome one for Quinlan but it also gave triumphant trainer King a much-needed boost after enduring a season to forget during the 2022/23 campaign.  

King said: “We were under a severe cloud last season when he wasn’t winning his races and the moment we came back into form he won his races last and here we are again. That is the real him.  

“He has got a wonderful owner (Peter Beadles), who is very patient and just lets me get on with it, but unfortunately he can’t be here today, however he will have enjoyed that. 

“There was only one result that was going to be good enough today. The plan was to make it a test for them today. He jumps and he gallops and he has speed. He has everything so why get in behind trouble. 

“I’ve been dreaming of big things from him from day one. He has got an entry in the Greatwood Hurdle here next month, but we will have to look and see about that. 

“He was a very well-handicapped horse coming into this race and it was a tough decision whether to go into a handicap or stay the novice route, but I just felt against we should for time being stay against novices. 

“I think he can get up to Grade One level. I’m absolutely over the moon as he has got the most wonderful owner attached to him. 

“I don’t want to sound boring but this is what we do it for. After the season we had last season you can’t believe to begin what this means to me.”